We stop today to remember those who left the world of music in 2012, from Dave Brubeck and Dick Clark to Levon Helm and Ronnie Montrose.

Brubeck, one of a dwindling number of jazz’s old masters, lived until a day before his 92nd birthday. But cancer took Helm, a drummer and signature voice in the Band; and Jon Lord, best known for his keyboard work with Deep Purple, much too soon. Davy Jones of the Monkees, meanwhile, was felled by a heart attack.

Also gone are two titans of music television, Dick Clark and Don Cornelius who — through their popular programs “American Bandstand” and “Soul Train” — touched generations of young people. And started more than a few dance crazes, along the way. Cornelius and rocker Ronnie Montrose both took their own lives, only deepening the sense of loss.

Country music lost Earl Scruggs and Kitty Wells, among others. Memorable figures in pop music like Whitney Houston, Joe South, Hal David, Donna Summer and Andy Williams were silenced, as well. Iron Butterfly mourned Lee Dorman, while Fleetwood Mac remembers two late members, Bob Weston and Bob Welch.

Ravi Shankar, who turned the Beatles — and then everyone — on to Indian music, died late in the year. Ed Cassidy Spirit, Bill Doss of Olivia Tremor Control and Huw Lloyd-Langton of Hawkwind will be dearly missed, too.

We’ve compiled the following list of notable 2012 deaths in music by month and day below. Click through individuals listed in ALL CAPS for more detailed remembrances, and related music reviews …

The Something Else! webzine, an accredited Google News affiliate, has been featured in The New York Times and NPR.com's A Blog Supreme, while our writers have also been published by USA Today, Jazz.com and UltimateClassicRock.com, among others. Contact Something Else! at reviews@somethingelsereviews.com.